Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has prohibited the movement of Kaudias and Bol Bom devotees from taking water from rivers to temples. In view of the growing number of Coronavirus cases and the restrictions imposed on religious congregations by Government of India, it has been decided that the devotees will not be allowed to undertake Bol Bom walk.
As in the Odia month of Shravan, people carry water from some religious places, walk barefoot for several miles and put water in some Shiva Temples on each Monday of this month and these people generally referred to as, ‘Bol Bom devotees’ or ‘Kaudias’ start their journey on Saturday/ Sunday/ Monday by collecting water from one religious place and walk till Monday morning and pour the collected water on a Shiva Linga in some other Temple on Monday.
The above activity is not permitted in view of the lockdown norms of the Government of lndia and the Government of Odisha and also have extensive potential of spreading COVID-1 9 pandemic.
Therefore, on further assessment of the situation and in the interest of public health, the State Government ordered that the above religious activities and congregations remain prohibited and the Kaudias and Bol Bom devotees are not allowed to carry water from any religious place or any other sources and also not allowed to walk on any public road and pour water in any Temples/ Shiva Temples during the Odia month of Shravan i.e., July and August. The order issued by the State Government shall be strictly implemented in the interest of public health.